Text 1. Careers in management

Pre-reading task.

1. Use the following word expressions in English instead of their Russian equivalents in the text below.

recruiting and selecting employees, direction and lead­ership, satisfy the needs, achieve objec­tives set, promotions, clerical workers, to assess, perform one of the most important functions, profitability, assigns duties, evaluates, to shift, report writing, revenues, develop marketing strategy

I am a first year student of the Faculty of Economics and Law of Mogilev State University named after A. Kuleshov. In some years I shall graduate from the University and start working as an economist or manager.

To be good specialists in the field we study many special subjects – economic theory, maths, statistics, macroeconomics and microeconomics, management, psychology, money and banking, computer science, marketing, advertising, and others. Besides, an economist needs some knowledge of political and economic history, and the geo-political situation inside the country. In modern world speaking fluently at least one foreign language is also a must if you want to succeed.

I am sure that the profession of a manager is one of the most important, exciting and rewarding careers. It offers status, interesting work, satisfaction, gives chances of promotion. Managers work closely with people - the most important resource in organizations, - ranging from top managers to конторские служащие, to ensure that organizations достигают поставленных целей. If staff perform effectively, the organizations will succeed.

Managers make things happen in organiza­tions. They provide overall руководство и управление for the organization. They decide what will be done, who will do it, when will it be done, and what resources will be used. Managers set clear objectives for the team and make sure they know what the focus is, распределяет обязанности to team members, and encourages them to perform those duties. The manager also оценивает the team's actual performance and decides on продвижение по службе and salary in­creases where appropriate. Thus, managers are the heart of organizations, the force that unites everything in the organization to ensure maximum efficiency and прибыльность.

Managers are involved with planned and unplanned activities: meetings, inspection tours, составление отчетов, new product launches⁴, disagreements among employees, customer grievances⁵, and changes in business trends. That’s why a manager should be able переключаться continually from person to person and from one subject or problem to another. The field of management rewards creative, curious, analytical, and logical thinkers. Other helpful qualities for both a manager and an economist include:

• The ability to work accurately with details

• The ability to work well independently as well as with others

• The ability to be objective and systematic in one's work

• Patience and persistence (since economists and marketing research analysts must spend long hours on independent study and problem solving)

• Effective communication skills

• The ability to collect, organize, interpret, analyze data, and to present results clearly, both orally and in writing

• The ability to make decisions based on experi­ence and using data

TYPES OF MANAGEMENT CAREERS. The manager's job is varied: operations managers, human resources managers, financial managers, marketing managers, sales managers, etc. As for me, I’d like to be a …

• Operations managers - see that the company's products and/or services meet quality stan­dards and удовлетворяют потребности of customers and clients. They are responsible for production control, inven­tory control, quality control, plant layout, and site selection.

• Human resources managers - provide the orga­nization with competent and productive em­ployees (i.e. human resource planning, наем и подбор кадров, training and development, designing compensation and benefits systems, etc.).

• Financial managers - deal with the financial re­sources of the organizations. They are respon­sible for such activities as accounting, cash management, investments, pre­paring financial reports, and gathering information давать оценку the financial status of the organiza­tion.

• Marketing managers - are responsible for get­ting customers and clients to buy the organi­zation's products or services. They разрабатывают стратегию маркетинга, set prices, and work closely with advertising and publicity personnel to see that products are promoted adequately.

• Sales managers - exist in almost every firm and выполняет одну из самых важных функций in the organization. They find customers for the company's products and/or services and there­fore provide доходы for the company. They re­cruit, hire, train, and supervise the company's sales force.

Besides, management careers are also available in government agencies, hospitals, not-for-profit agencies, museums, educational institutions, and even political organizations. Good managers are also needed in foreign and multinational compa­nies. All organizations exist for certain purposes and need good managers to guide their opera­tions to achieve the best possible results. Regard­less of the type of organization, managers are obviously one of its most important resources.

A management career offers the oppor­tunity to make the world a better place. Managers help organizations succeed. When organizations are successful, there is better utilization of re­sources, less stress among employees, less chaos in society, and a better quality of life for all. Effective managers play an important role in shaping the world in which we live.

Activities.

Task 1. Give the Russian equivalents for the following words and word combinations. Learn them.

macroeconomics, microeconomics, money and banking, computer science, marketing, advertising, geo-political situation inside the country, to succeed, exciting and rewarding career, chances of promotion, staff, achieve objec­tives, to perform functions, profitability, to assign duties, to evaluate, to coordinate, develop marketing strategy, to analyze data, to deal with financial re­sources, not-for-profit agencies

Task 2. Answer the questions:

1. What subjects do you study at University to be good specialists in the field of economics?

2. Do you agree that an economist needs some knowledge of political and economic history, and the geo-political situation inside the country? Why / why not?

3. Why is the profession of a manager one of the most important, exciting and rewarding careers?

4. What is the most important resource in any organization? How should managers treat it?

5. What are the main activities managers are involved into?

6. What are some of the carriers of the profession of a manager? Which would you prefer?

7. In what spheres will you be able to find a job after the graduation from University?

8. Give your ideas on the role effective management plays in shaping the world in which we live.

Task 3. A. Think of the opposites of the following.

E.g. risk-taking - risk avoidance

1. open-mindedness; 2. respect for other people’s opinions; 3. competitiveness; 4. trustfulness; 5. patience; 6. personal control; 7. initiative; 8. flexibility; 9. formality; 10. selfishness; 11. collectivism; 12. directness; 13. friendliness; 14. conservatism; 15. generosity; 16. intelligence; 17. practicality; 18. responsibility; 19. laziness

B. It goes without saying that being a successful manager means having certain professional and personal qualities. Discuss in microgroups and compile the two lists below (A & B). Be ready to comment on each quality.

A. To be a good manager having the following qualities is a must: … .

B. Combination of some other personal qualities is also desirable; as for me, I consider to be the most important sense of humour, imagination and creativity, charisma ([‘kærɪzmə]), ambition … .

Task 4. The table below presents some of the most frequently mentioned managerial functions. In microgroups: A) discuss and complete the list if needed; B) briefly comment each one on. Two of them have already been done.

Direction & leadership	Managers decide what will be done, who will do it, when will it be done, and what resources will be used.
Forecasting
Analysis
Evaluation
Planning
Communication
Decision-making
Reporting
Monitoring
Coordination	Managers coordinate their departments' activities with other departments.

Abridged from: Encyclopedia of Business and Finance. Vol.1.MacMillan Reference US

Task 5. Be ready to speak on the situation “Choosing a career of a manager” using the following plan.

1. Is it an easy thing to choose an occupation? Why? Do people from the early childhood know what they would be in future?

2. What did you want to be when you were a child?

3. When did you decide to be a manager? Who helped you to make this choice?

4. What is an important part of the de­cision-making process?

5. What University and faculty do you study at? What is your specialty? What other professions can one get at this University?

6. What kind of knowledge is needed to be a good specialist in the field of law? What subjects do you study at University? What do you like best / least?

7. Do you agree that the profession of a manager is one of the most important nowadays? Prove that management is a very exciting and rewarding career. Why is the career of a manager so popular nowadays?

9. Speak on the major functions managers perform.

10. What traits of one’s characters does a person need to succeed as a manager? Do you have them?

11. Prove that the profession of a manager is quite diversified (speak on the major types of management careers).

12. Is it an easy thing to find a job of a manager? Prove your answer. In what spheres will you be able to find a job after the graduation from University?

13. Conclusion.